Reports rolled in today from family and friends in southern Quebec and eastern Ontario about the crazy amount of snow the region was getting. I heard estimates of 50 cm/20 in some parts! They are going to be digging themselves out of that one for several days.

These stories remind me of how much of my life has been wasted fighting winter. All those hours of dealing with frozen pipes, shovelling, driving in bad conditions, dressing and undressing in 50 billion layers, and earning the money to pay for all the propane needed to stay warm. And then there was the number of times I had to walk with soggy feet because of slush or nurse bad bruises from slipping on ice or lose a piece of my ear to frostbite. I do miss crisp cold sunny days, building snow forts, snowshoeing, and tobogganing, but not enough to ever want to deal with wintery conditions again.

There are no words to express how grateful I am to be in Hampton Roads tonight, warm and snug and not needing more than a heater running on low to keep my home comfortable. All I can say is that I feel very content and satisfied.